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Characterization of a novel Aedes aegypti ferritin subunit identified utilizing proteomic techniques
Author(s) -
Geiser Dawn L.,
Li Wenzhou,
Gucinski Ashley C.,
Patel Naren,
Patel Pritesh,
Wysocki Vicki H.,
Winzerling Joy J.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.985.4
Subject(s) - ferritin , biology , aedes aegypti , proteome , blood meal , protein subunit , ovary , hemoglobin , biochemistry , gene , larva , botany , genetics , zoology
Mosquitoes must blood fed for egg development. The nutrient‐rich blood meal provides a potentially toxic concentration of iron that is sequestered and transported throughout the mosquito in ferritin. Ferritin is a 24‐subunit protein composed of heavy and light chains. We generated a 24 h ovary proteome from Aedes aegypti (yellow fever mosquito) fed an artificial blood meal with or without hemoglobin to identify proteins prominently regulated by iron. Of 165 proteins observed from LC‐MS/MS analysis, 5 proteins were described as up regulated by iron and 4 down regulated utilizing high stringency criteria. The ferritin heavy chain homologue (HCH) was shown to be up regulated in the ovary. A preliminary proteomic analysis of the 24 h ovary from mosquitoes fed an artificial hemoglobin‐rich diet identified an iron‐regulated, previously uncharacterized ferritin light chain homologue (LCH2). Subsequent molecular characterization demonstrated that the LCH2 transcript was present in all developmental stages and up regulated in males and in females 72 h post blood feeding (PBF). LCH2 mRNA is highly expressed 72 h PBF in ovaries. Immunoblot analysis showed LCH2 protein in eggs, 1 st instar larvae, males and females 72 h PBF as well as significantly up regulation in ovaries 72 h PBF. Further characterization of the LCH2 subunit will provide insights into the unique regulation of iron metabolism in mosquitoes. Research support from the Agricultural Experiment Station and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the Undergraduate Biology Research Program and the Honors College at the University of Arizona.